Craig C. Broyles, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Trinity Western Seminary in Canada, views the Psalms as originally written for use in liturgy. “A psalm was originally designed as liturgy and not a chapter in a book.” Their function is to help the people of God in worship.

The “Table of Contents” lists the psalms in numerical order as they appear in the NIV and supplies a title for each by the author. The “Introduction” of some 41 pages contains a number of interesting features. The psalm is defined. Then the various genre are introduced: Temple Entry Liturgies, Hymns (in their many varieties), Royal Psalms, Wisdom and Torah Psalms. In addition, OT traditions, David and the Psalms and a very interesting treatment of spirituality and the psalms receive consideration. The work concludes with a Subject Index and a Scripture Index.

Broyles makes a careful section by section exposition of each Psalm in this volume of the New International Commentary series. Key terms and phrases are highlighted. Extensive footnotes follow each chapter and contain helpful textual and

ATJ 34 (2002) p. 90

technical information. Utilizing the latest scholarship, the author has produced a user-friendly commentary and the Psalms for the general reader and the serious student.

C. Hassel Bullock, the Franklin Dryness Professor of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College, has authored a comprehensive tome to introduce readers to the elements of interpreting the Psalms. This work is one part in a series by Baker Academic entitled Encountering Biblical Studies.

The author deals in three parts with many of the various dimensions found in the Psalms such as: literary and hermeneutical, liter...